Methods, compositions, and systems are provided for characterization of modified nucleic acids. In certain preferred embodiments, single molecule sequencing methods are provided for identification of modified nucleotides within nucleic acid sequences. Modifications detectable by the methods provided herein include chemically modified bases, enzymatically modified bases, abasic sites, non-natural bases, secondary structures, and agents bound to a template nucleic acid.

A bone graft delivery kit includes a hollow tube having a proximal end and a distal end, an implant and a plunger. The hollow tube is configured to be connected to the implant, and to convey bone graft material to a graft receiving area in a patient. The plunger is configured to facilitate moving the bone graft material through the hollow tube. The implant includes openings configured for passage of the bone graft material therethrough, and internal ramps configured to direct the bone graft material to the openings.

An implant assembly including an expandable vertebral body replacement implant. Two outer cores disposed on opposing ends of an inner are configured to move away from each other when the inner core is actuated. The implant assembly may include removable endplate configured to engage vertebral bodies as interbody spacer or through a corpectomy. The implant may include a locking mechanism to prevent collapse or movement the implant assembly after implantation. The locking mechanism may be automatically engage after removal of an inserter instrument from the implant assembly.

Medical devices used for the treatment of disease, monitoring of physiological properties and the correction of deformities and/or degenerative conditions including integrated sensors providing physiological parameters to assist in assessing healing and the clinical management of patients. Including methods of production of said medical devices.

The present disclosure relates to implantable encapsulation devices for housing a biological moiety or a therapeutic device that contains a biological moiety. Particularly, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an implantable apparatus that includes a distal end, a proximal end, a manifold including at least one access port positioned either at the distal end or the proximal end, and a plurality of containment tubes affixed to the manifold and in fluid communication with the at least one access port. Additionally, the encapsulation device may contain a flush port and a tube that are fluidly connected to the manifold. The containment tubes may contain therein a biological moiety (e.g., cells) or a therapeutic device (e.g. a cell encapsulation member).

An implant may include a body including a ring, the ring further defining an opening, and the body defining a transverse plane dividing the implant into a superior half and an inferior half. The ring may also define a radial direction and a circumferential direction. The implant may further include a first outer member attached to the ring, wherein the first outer member extends radially from the ring, wherein the first outer member defines one or more arches, and wherein the ring further defines a central channel extending through the implant.

The present invention involves a system and methods for assembling and implanting a vertebral body implant. The vertebral body implant includes, but is not necessarily limited to, an expandable core body and endplates that can be attached at both ends. Endplates of various shapes, sizes and angles are attachable to the expandable core so that a suitable vertebral body implant can be implanted between vertebrae.

An implant assembly including an expandable vertebral body replacement implant. The implant assembly includes a right hand end and a left hand end configured to attach to a threaded actuator. An outer ring is configured to surround each of the right and left hand ends and the threaded actuator. The implant assembly may include removable endplates configured to engage vertebral bodies as interbody spacer or through a corpectomy. The implant assembly includes a locking mechanism to prevent collapse or movement the implant assembly after implantation. The locking mechanism automatically engage after removal of an inserter instrument from the implant assembly.

Methods, compositions, and systems are provided for characterization of modified nucleic acids. In certain preferred embodiments, single molecule sequencing methods are provided for identification of modified nucleotides within nucleic acid sequences. Modifications detectable by the methods provided herein include chemically modified bases, enzymatically modified bases, abasic sites, non-natural bases, secondary structures, and agents bound to a template nucleic acid.

Embodiments of nanostructures comprising metal oxide and methods for forming the nanostructure on surfaces are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the nanostructures can be formed on a substrate made of a nickel titanium alloy, resulting in a nanostructure containing both titanium oxide and nickel oxide. The nanostructure can include a lattice layer disposed on top of a nanotube layer. The distal surface of the lattice layer can have a titanium oxide to nickel oxide ratio of greater than 10:1, or about 17:1, resulting in a nanostructure that promotes human endothelial cell migration and proliferation at the interface between the lattice layer and human cells or tissue. The nanostructure may be formed on the outer surface of an implantable medical device, such a stent or an orthopedic implant (e.g. knee implant, bone screw, or bone staple).